RESONATE: Practical Approaches for Implementing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in MRI Research
Member-Initiated Symposium

ORGANIZERS: Udunna Anazodo, Esther Warnert

Wednesday, 15 May 2019

Session Number: MIS-16

Overview
To solve complex medical problems in an increasingly global environment, inclusion of diverse ideas, perspectives and study populations are vital. Science has already embraced the shift from research within traditional academic silos to interdisciplinary collaborative research because of the innate gain in innovation from the collective efforts of academically diverse group of researchers. To fully maximize all the intangible assets a group can possess, inclusion of socially diverse groups (age, class, race, ethnicity, gender, ability) is now recognized as being imperative. It is quite evident that socially diverse research teams are more productive and make better group decisions, and the use of diverse study populations lead to more impactful science. (Freeman & Huang, Nature 2014; 513, 305; Powell, Nature 2018; 558, 19-22).

How then can we make MRI research more diverse, equitable and inclusive, particularly within our organization, research groups and study populations? At the 2018 ISMRM annual meeting, the science of implicit bias and diversity were explored for the first time, through various
initiatives including the Resonate Member-Initiated Symposium. Following the success of the inaugural Resonate symposium (JMRI Editorial under review), we propose to build on this foundational knowledge and discuss practical approaches on how to make MRI research more equitable, diverse and inclusive (EDI).

Target Audience
Because this session is designed as a community-wide forum for all ISMRM members, attendance is open to all ISMRM attendees including exhibitors.

Educational Objectives
As a result of attending this course, participants should be able to:
- Recognize practical approaches and tools for creating diverse and inclusive research teams;
- Identify strategies that will lead to immediate and long-term results in increasing the participation of members from underrepresented groups; and
- Explain the need to increase representation in study populations, especially given the growing use of data science and artificial intelligence in MRI research.